2013 Subaru Legacy Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
GoodComplaint Index
40/100
#10 most-complained of 16 Legacy years
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
The 2013 Subaru Legacy has a complaint index of 40 and ranks 10th out of 16 model years, earning a "Good" verdict relative to other Legacy years. NHTSA lists 66 complaints and 12 recalls, with Engine issues the top problem area at 35% of complaints.
- Complaints
- 66
- Recalls
- 12
- Crashes / fires
- 6 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 5 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 24
- 21 city / 28 hwy
Top 2013 Subaru Legacy problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine23 (35%)
- Airbags14 (21%)
- Transmission & Powertrain12 (18%)
- Electrical System7 (11%)
- Structure & Body7 (11%)
- Brakes5 (8%)
- Other5 (8%)
- Steering4 (6%)
- Seat Belts3 (5%)
- Fuel System1 (2%)
What owners report
- Owners report the engine stalling during acceleration, often around 35 mph, on hills or level roads, with the engine restarting itself after losing speed.
- Some drivers describe the vehicle lunging or unintentionally moving forward while parking, resulting in a crash into a wall or barrier.
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in multiple collisions, including a head-on crash, a highway guardrail impact, and a slide into a snowbank.
- Several owners report the vehicle swerving or wandering left and right at highway speeds around 70 to 75 mph with no cause found on inspection.
- A driver-side seat belt was reported to click constantly, described as distracting and unresolved by the dealer.
2013 Subaru Legacy recalls
12 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 20V001000Jan 2, 2020Airbags258,813 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (STI included), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators with alternate inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-20.
- NHTSA 20V003000Jan 2, 2020Airbags111,562 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKC-20.
- NHTSA 20V002000Jan 2, 2020Airbags127,547 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKB-20.
2013 Subaru Legacy fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 21 MPG
- Highway
- 28 MPG
- Combined
- 24 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,700
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2013 compared with other Legacy years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2013 Subaru Legacy reliable?
- Relative to other Legacy model years, the 2013 is rated "Good" with a complaint index of 40, ranking 10th out of 16 years tracked. It has fewer reported problems than years like 2010, 2011, 2015, and 2016, which are rated "Avoid."
- What are the most common problems with the 2013 Subaru Legacy?
- NHTSA complaint data shows Engine issues lead at 35% of complaints (23 total), followed by Airbags at 21% (14 complaints) and Transmission & Powertrain at 18% (12 complaints).
- Does the 2013 Subaru Legacy have airbag recalls?
- Yes. NHTSA lists multiple airbag-related recalls covering the 2013 Legacy, including campaigns 20V001000, 20V003000, 20V002000, 19V008000, 19V007000, and 19V009000, mostly involving passenger air bag inflator replacement.
- How many complaints and recalls does the 2013 Subaru Legacy have?
- NHTSA lists 66 complaints and 12 recalls for the 2013 Legacy, with 6 reported crashes, 5 injuries, and 0 deaths.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2013 Subaru Legacy?
- EPA rates the 2013 Legacy at 24 mpg combined (21 city / 28 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,700.